Vandebilt students to honor deceased peer in parades

Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

Performance groups at Vandebilt Catholic High School have added a pop of purple to their usual blue and white Carnival parade uniforms.

The marching band, color guard, and varsity and junior varsity dance teams have included a purple ribbon on their clothing and in their hair to honor the memory of deceased student Courtney Drury.

Courtney was in the ninth grade at Vandebilt and a member of the junior varsity dance team. She died during the school’s Christmas break from natural causes school officials did not wish to share.

“I never pursued to find out exactly what it was she died from. It didn’t matter to us. It just mattered that she’s one of our kids,” said band director Brad Adams. “Even though she passed on, we didn’t want our kids to feel like she’s forgotten.”

Purple was Courtney’s favorite color, Adams said. So the ribbons are just a way to remember her. The students wore the small tokens during the Hyacinthians parade Sunday and will do so again Feb. 12 during Houmas.

Those are two performances in which the junior varsity squad participates.

“These are performances she would have been in, so this way she’s still there with us. We didn’t do it for everybody else or for publicity but more for our kids and to teach a bigger lesson — death isn’t the end. It’s a continuation,” Adams said. “We certainly don’t want to not honor her. We want the family to know she’s still part of everything we do. We’re trying to communicate and heal.”

Two large purple bows are adorning the school banner carried in front of the group during parades.

<p>Performance groups at Vandebilt Catholic High School have added a pop of purple to their usual blue and white Carnival parade uniforms. </p><p>The marching band, color guard, and varsity and junior varsity dance teams have included a purple ribbon on their clothing and in their hair to honor the memory of deceased student Courtney Drury. </p><p>Courtney was in the ninth grade at Vandebilt and a member of the junior varsity dance team. She died during the school's Christmas break from natural causes school officials did not wish to share. </p><p>“I never pursued to find out exactly what it was she died from. It didn't matter to us. It just mattered that she's one of our kids,” said band director Brad Adams. “Even though she passed on, we didn't want our kids to feel like she's forgotten.”</p><p>Purple was Courtney's favorite color, Adams said. So the ribbons are just a way to remember her. The students wore the small tokens during the Hyacinthians parade Sunday and will do so again Feb. 12 during Houmas. </p><p>Those are two performances in which the junior varsity squad participates. </p><p>“These are performances she would have been in, so this way she's still there with us. We didn't do it for everybody else or for publicity but more for our kids and to teach a bigger lesson — death isn't the end. It's a continuation,” Adams said. “We certainly don't want to not honor her. We want the family to know she's still part of everything we do. We're trying to communicate and heal.”</p><p>Two large purple bows are adorning the school banner carried in front of the group during parades.</p>